Middletown (Delaware) Designer Show House Opens April 13

The Middletown Designer Show House offers interior design fans a look inside one of the historic district’s architectural gems.

The Middletown Designer Show House offers interior design fans something extra special: a look inside one of the historic district’s architectural gems. This year the fundraiser features the redesign of a 2 ½-story, circa 1880s Victorian listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We have invited leading designers from Delaware and surrounding states to show their creativity and skill in transforming this wonderful old home into a showpiece for today,” says Tracy Skrobot, program manager for Middletown Main Street Inc., the Show House beneficiary.

The bones of the house give interior designers a lot of character to work with: 9- and 10-foot ceilings on the first floor, bay windows, several period fireplaces and the kind of ornamental woodwork that adds real charm. The home’s decor hadn’t been updated since Anne and Scott Butler moved in 20 years ago, so designers couldn’t wait to get started on the 17 spaces they’ll be redoing.

Sneak Peek
Barbara Pettinella of Decorating Den Interiors in Hockessin will design the 16-by-24-foot living room and Hector Correa of DelCor Home Interiors in Middletown will handle the master bedroom. They are just two of the talented designers working on the Butler home. They and their colleagues will often be present during Show House hours to talk with those touring the home about how their ideas can be adapted for other spaces.

Raising Funds and Awareness
Middletown’s Designer Show House raises funds for the Main Street initiative while also raising awareness about the importance—and attractive advantages—of historic preservation.

“I think they phrase it well on the Preservation Nation Web site,” Skrobot says. “As they say, ‘Our Main Streets tell us who we are and who we were, and how the past has shaped us.’ In Middletown, we are preserving the best of the past and making it work for our growing town’s present and future.”

Hours

Show House

Public tours
Fridays-Sundays, April 13 to May 20
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets: $15 per person